Mongolia is a country four times the size of Montana
and, like Montana, lies between 40 and 50 degrees of latitude.
The climate, geology, vegetation and wildlife of Mongolia is also very
similar to that of Montana. The landscape ranges from dry grassland (Gobi)
in the south to steppe, snowy mountains and taiga in the north.

Genghis Khan is Mongolia's favorite son
and, understandably, he is revered within Mongolia. Disparaging remarks
about Genghis are the one sure way to NOT make friends in Mongolia.
In fact, virtually all written accounts of Genghis Khan and his empire
were written by the people he defeated, so what we know as "history" has
a natural anti-Genghis bias. Genghis Khan was a firm, unambiguous
ruler who was also remarkably tolerant of different religions, new technologies
and diverse points of view. His empire, while built with an iron
fist, served to mix cultures from Korea to Europe and the long term positive
effects of his empire building are undeniable.

Mongolians are nomadic herders and each herdsmen
strives for a healthy balance in his livestock of sheep, goats, camels,
cattle (yaks) and horses. The Mongolian diet revolves around meat
and milk products with very little in the way of vegetables.

Mongolians are traditionally Tibetan Buddhists
with a healthy dose of Shamanism thrown in. After seventy years of
government decreed atheism under the Communists, Mongolia is just rediscovering
its spiritual roots.

In the countryside of Mongolia, people still live
much as they have for centuries. Their lifestyle is well suited to
the environment and has been refined through time. People in the
countryside are simple but enjoy a high level of literacy and are more
sophisticated than what the term "nomads" may conjure up to the western
mind.

Ulaan Baatar, the capitol city, is a modern city
of 700,000 (one third of the entire population of Mongolia). High
rise apartments, crowded suburbs, chaotic traffic are in stark contrast
to the quiet, simple life of the countryside. Ulaan Baatar is where
east meets west, where the promise of technology and modern values collides
with traditional culture. In Suhkbaatar Square, near the statue of
the revolutionary hero Sukhbaatar, you can see hip young people talking
on their cell phones next to old men in traditional dress flipping their
prayer beads, talking to the Gods.

In Ulaan Baatar you may expect western standard
hotels, a variety of restaurants, good art and history museums and a friendly
and open populace.

In the countryside expect rustic accommodations
in gers, simple meals, bumpy, dusty roads and a friendly and open populace.